JP2012088898A - Pedal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pedal device capable of suppressing accumulation of foreign substances in a housing.SOLUTION: A pedal arm 2 rotatably provided on an inner wall of a housing 3 attachable on a vehicle body rotates by receiving a stepping force by a driver onto an operation part extending from an opening part 35 formed in the housing 3 toward the outside. A spring 4 energizes the pedal arm 2 to the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the pedal arm 2 by a stepping operation by the driver. A cover 6 is provided on the side of the vehicle body of the housing 3, leaving a gap between the cover and the vehicle body. The cover 6 has a discharge hole 61 through which foreign substances entering the housing 3 from the opening part 35 of the housing 3 can be discharged to the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the vehicle body, which can prevent foreign substances from being caught in a sliding portion in the housing 3, or a portion between a contact part 23 of the pedal arm 2 and a stopper 36 of the housing 3.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedal device used for accelerator operation of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pedal device that controls a vehicle speed state in accordance with an amount of pedal arm depression by a driver is known. In the pedal device described in Patent Document 1, a pedal arm is attached to a shaft member that is rotatably provided in a housing. The pedal arm rotates in response to a driver's stepping force on an operation portion that extends to the outside of the housing from an opening formed in the housing. A spring urges the pedal arm in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pedal arm rotates by the driver's stepping operation.
The stopper provided in the housing and the contact portion provided on the outer wall of the pedal arm come into contact with each other, so that the rotation of the pedal arm in the direction in which the spring is urged is limited. Thus, when the driver does not apply the pedaling force to the pedal arm, the pedal arm is held in the fully closed position. At this time, a signal indicating that the pedal arm is in the fully closed position is output from the rotation angle sensor that detects the rotation of the pedal arm to the engine control unit (ECU) of the vehicle. As a result, the ECU stops the acceleration instruction to the engine.

JP 2009-169812 A

  However, in the pedal device of Patent Document 1, when foreign matter such as dust, sand or stone is blown away by a blower or the like when cleaning the interior of the vehicle, these foreign matters are released from the opening of the housing through which the pedal arm is inserted. There is a risk of entering the housing. Sliding locations such as a gap between the shaft member to which the pedal arm is attached and the inner wall of the housing or a gap between the friction plate and the rotor that gives a predetermined frictional force to the rotation of the pedal arm are formed in the housing. . If a foreign object bites into such a sliding part, there is a concern that the pedaling force characteristic set in advance in the pedal device changes and the operation feeling deteriorates.

  Further, when the pedal arm rotates, the distance between the stopper of the housing and the contact portion of the pedal arm changes, and the distance between the rotor that transmits the urging force of the spring to the pedal arm and the cover provided on the vehicle body side of the housing. Changes. For this reason, when foreign matter is accumulated in the housing when the pedal arm rotates, the foreign matter may be caught between the stopper of the housing and the contact portion of the pedal arm or between the rotor and the cover. is there. If foreign matter bites into these places, there is a concern that the pedal arm will not return to the fully closed position when the pedaling force applied to the pedal arm by the driver is released. In this case, a signal indicating that the pedal arm is rotating by a predetermined amount is output from the rotation angle sensor to the ECU of the vehicle, and the ECU controls the engine to an acceleration state contrary to the driver's intention. This may cause the driver to feel anxiety or danger.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pedal device capable of suppressing foreign matter from accumulating in a housing.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the first aspect of the invention, the pedal arm that is rotatably provided on the inner wall of the housing that can be attached to the vehicle body is operated at the end portion that extends outward from the opening formed in the housing. Rotates under the pedaling force of the person. The urging means urges the pedal arm in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pedal arm rotates by the driver's stepping operation. A cover is provided on the vehicle body side of the housing with a gap between the housing and the vehicle body. The cover has a discharge hole through which foreign matter that has entered the housing through the opening of the housing can be discharged into a gap between the cover and the vehicle body.
Thereby, since the foreign material which penetrate | invaded from the opening part of the housing is discharged | emitted from a discharge port, it can suppress that a foreign material accumulates in a housing. For this reason, a foreign object bites a sliding portion in the housing such as a gap between the shaft member to which the pedal arm is attached and the inner wall of the housing, or a gap between the friction plate and the rotor that gives a predetermined frictional force to the rotation of the pedal arm. Is suppressed. Therefore, the pedaling force characteristic preset in the pedal device is maintained, and the deterioration of the operation feeling can be suppressed.
Further, when the pedal arm rotates, the foreign matter that has entered the housing is prevented from being caught between the stopper of the housing and the contact portion of the pedal arm, or between the rotor and the cover. Therefore, when the pedaling force applied to the pedal arm by the driver is released, the pedal arm is reliably returned to the fully closed position by the urging force of the urging means. At this time, a signal indicating that the pedal arm is in the fully closed position is output from the rotation angle sensor that detects the rotation of the pedal arm to the ECU of the vehicle, and the ECU stops the acceleration instruction to the engine. Therefore, the safety of the pedal device can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pedal device includes the rotor that is provided around the rotation axis of the pedal arm, rotates together with the pedal arm, receives the urging force from the urging means, and transmits the urging force to the pedal arm. The discharge hole on the opening side of the housing from the position where the cross-sectional area of the gap formed between the radial outer wall of the pedal arm or the radial outer wall of the rotor and the inner wall of the cover is minimized when the pedal arm is fully closed Is provided. Further, the opening cross-sectional area of the discharge hole is formed larger than the minimum cross-sectional area of the gap.
As a result, the foreign matter that has entered the housing through the opening is located between the cover and the vehicle body from the discharge hole formed larger than the minimum cross-sectional area of the gap before the position where the cross-sectional area of the gap is minimum. Is discharged. For this reason, it can suppress that a foreign material accumulates in a housing.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the inner wall of the opening part of a housing inclines in the direction which goes to a discharge hole from the outer side of a housing. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the outer wall on the cover side of the pedal arm is inclined in a direction from the outside of the housing toward the discharge hole when the pedal arm is fully closed. Thereby, the foreign substance which penetrates into the housing from the opening of the housing is discharged from the discharge hole without changing the moving direction.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, a pedal apparatus is provided with the dust-proof wall which protrudes in the vehicle body side from the outer wall of a cover on the opposite side to an opening part from the discharge hole of a cover, and suppresses that a foreign material penetrate | invades in a housing. Thereby, it can suppress that a foreign material penetrate | invades in a housing through a discharge hole from the clearance gap between a cover and a vehicle body.

According to the invention of claim 6, the pedal device includes the valve body that closes the discharge hole of the cover and that can be opened and closed to the vehicle body side. Accordingly, when a force acts on the valve body from the inside of the housing, such as an impact when a foreign object collides with the valve body from the opening of the housing, or a flow of airflow, the valve body opens to the vehicle body side. For this reason, the foreign matter that has entered the housing from the opening is discharged into the gap between the cover and the vehicle body.
On the other hand, since the valve body is normally closed, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the housing through the discharge hole.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, a pedal apparatus is provided in the inner wall of a cover, and is provided with the elastic member which plugs up the space | gap on the opposite side to an opening part from a discharge hole. Thus, the foreign material that has entered the gap from the opening is restricted by the elastic member from entering the deep portion of the housing from the gap, and is discharged from the discharge hole to the gap between the cover and the vehicle body.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the pedal device shields the space formed between the inner wall of the opening of the housing and the pedal arm when the pedal arm is fully closed, and elastically deforms as the pedal arm rotates. A possible shielding member is provided. Thereby, the penetration | invasion of a foreign material from an opening part in a housing can be restrict | limited.

  According to the invention of claim 9, the inner wall of the discharge hole of the cover is inclined toward the opening from the vehicle body side toward the inside of the housing. This increases the possibility that foreign matter that has entered the housing from the opening will be discharged from the discharge hole.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the pedal arm that is rotatably provided on the inner wall of the housing that can be attached to the vehicle body rotates by receiving the pedaling force of the driver at the end portion that extends outward from the opening formed in the housing. . The urging means urges the pedal arm in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pedal arm rotates by the driver's stepping operation. The shielding member shields a space formed between the inner wall of the opening of the housing and the pedal arm when the pedal arm is fully closed, and can be elastically deformed as the pedal arm rotates. Thereby, the penetration | invasion of a foreign material from an opening part in a housing can be restrict | limited.

It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an arrow view of the II direction of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows a state when a pedal arm exists in an open position. It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is an arrow view of the VII direction of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the pedal apparatus by 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
A pedal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
The pedal device 1 is mounted on a vehicle and controls the operating state of the engine according to the amount of depression of the pedal arm 2 by the driver. The pedal device 1 of the present embodiment employs an accelerator-by-wire system, converts the rotation angle of the pedal arm 2 into an electrical signal by the rotation angle sensor 5, and outputs it to the ECU of the vehicle. The ECU controls each part of the engine, such as the injection amount of the throttle device and the injector, based on a signal from the rotation angle sensor 5, vehicle speed information, and the like, and controls the operating state of the engine.

The pedal device 1 includes a pedal arm 2 that is depressed by a driver, a housing 3 that rotatably supports the pedal arm, a cover 6, a spring 4 as an urging means, a rotation angle sensor 5, and the like.
Hereinafter, the direction in which the pedal arm 2 rotates due to an increase in the pedal force accompanying the driver's stepping operation is referred to as the X direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the Y direction.

  The housing 3 is formed in a substantially box shape by resin, for example. The housing 3 includes a top plate 32, side plates 33 and 34, and the like. The side plate 33 and the side plate 34 are formed substantially parallel to each other and connected to the top plate 32. On the opposite side of the side plates 33, 34 from the top plate 32, mounting portions 37, 38 that can contact the vehicle body are provided substantially parallel to the top plate 32. The housing 3 is attached to the vehicle body by attaching bolts or the like to the attachment holes 311 and 312 formed in the attachment portions 37 and 38. In the present embodiment, the pedal device 1 is attached to a wall surface 100 extending in the gravity direction of the vehicle body, as shown in FIG.

A cover 6 is provided on the vehicle body side of the housing 3. The cover 6 is formed of resin, for example, and is attached between the side plates 33 and 34 of the housing 3. A gap 60 is formed between the outer wall of the cover 6 and the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body at a distance substantially the same as the plate thickness of the attachment portions 37 and 38.
The cover 6 is provided with a discharge hole 61. The discharge hole 61 will be described later.
The housing 3 is formed with an opening 35 through which the pedal arm 2 is inserted. The opening 35 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. A stopper 36 that restricts the rotation of the pedal arm 2 is provided on the top plate 32 side of the opening 35.
An inner wall 351 on the opposite side of the opening 35 from the stopper 36 is inclined in a direction from the outside of the housing 3 toward the discharge hole 61.

The pedal arm 2 has an operation portion (not shown) that receives a driver's stepping force at an end portion that extends outward from the opening 35 of the housing 3. The pedal arm 2 has a cylindrical portion 22 inside the housing 3. Further, the pedal arm 2 has a contact portion 23 on the outer wall in the Y direction outside the opening 35 of the housing 3. The abutting portion 23 can abut on the stopper 36 of the housing 3.
The outer wall 24 on the cover 6 side of the cylindrical portion 22 is inclined in a direction from the outside of the housing 3 toward the discharge hole 61 when the pedal arm 2 is fully closed.

  The cylindrical portion 22 of the pedal arm 2 is formed with a hole 221 that communicates with the rotation axis direction. The shaft member 11 is fitted in the hole 221. One end of the shaft member 11 is rotatably supported by a recess 331 formed on the inner wall of the side plate 33 of the housing 3, and the other end of the shaft member 11 is rotatably supported by a recess 341 formed on the inner wall of the side plate 34 of the housing 3. Yes. Therefore, the pedal arm 2 can rotate integrally with the shaft member 11 with the center of the shaft member 11 as the rotation axis O.

The rotor 12 is provided in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 22 of the pedal arm 2. The rotor 12 has a substantially annular annular portion 121 and a projecting portion 122 projecting radially outward from the annular portion 121. The annular member 121 has the shaft member 11 passed through the inside, and is rotatably supported by the shaft member 11. The annular portion 121 and the shaft member 11 are relatively rotatable.
A gap 20 is formed between the cylindrical portion 22 of the pedal arm 2 and the annular portion 121 of the rotor 12 and the inner wall of the cover 6. The gap 20 communicates the deep portion 30 of the housing 3 provided with the spring 4 and the like and the opening 35 of the housing 3.

The above-described discharge hole 61 provided in the cover 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and as shown in FIG. 1, the opening 35 side of the position A where the cross-sectional area of the gap 20 is minimized when the pedal arm 2 is fully closed. Is provided.
Here, in the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6, a distance in a direction substantially parallel to the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body and perpendicular to the rotation axis of the pedal arm 2 is defined as b. Further, a is the shortest distance between the annular portion 121 of the rotor 12 and the inner wall of the cover 6. At this time, the discharge hole 61 is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of b> a.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6, the distance c in the direction substantially parallel to the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body and parallel to the rotation axis of the pedal arm 2 is Is substantially the same as the distance d between. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the discharge hole 61 is formed larger than the minimum cross-sectional area of the gap 20.

  A plurality of helical teeth 123 having inclined surfaces are formed in the circumferential direction on the surface of the annular portion 121 on the cylindrical portion 22 side. On the other hand, a plurality of helical teeth 222 having inclined surfaces corresponding to the helical teeth 123 of the annular portion 121 are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion 22 on the annular portion 121 side in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, when the driver applies a pedaling force to the operation portion of the pedal arm 2, the helical tooth 123 of the annular portion 121 and the helical tooth 222 of the cylindrical portion 22 mesh with each other, and the annular portion 121 rotates together with the cylindrical portion 22. . At this time, the annular portion 121 is pressed toward the side plate 34 by the inclined surfaces of the helical teeth 123 and the helical teeth 222. A friction plate 14 is provided between the annular portion 121 and the side plate 34 to apply a frictional force to the annular portion 121. Thereby, a frictional force having a magnitude corresponding to the rotation angle of the pedal arm 2 acts on the pedal arm 2.

A substantially dish-shaped holder 13 is provided on the top plate 32 side of the protruding portion 122. A spring 4 is provided between the holder 13 and the top plate 32. The spring 4 is a double coil spring composed of a first coil spring 41 and a second coil spring 42.
The spring 4 has a force extending in the axial direction, and presses the holder 13 against the protruding portion 122 side of the rotor 12. Due to the biasing force of the spring 4, the projecting portion 122 of the rotor 12 is biased toward the cover 6, and the annular portion 121 rotates. As the annular portion 121 rotates, the pedal arm 2 having the cylindrical portion 22 also rotates due to the meshing of the helical teeth 123 and the helical teeth 222. That is, the spring 4 urges the pedal arm 2 in a direction (Y direction) opposite to the direction in which the pedal arm 2 rotates by the driver's stepping operation.

  The rotation angle sensor 5 is attached to the side plate 33 of the housing 3. The rotation angle sensor 5 has a Hall IC 52. On the other hand, a magnet 53 is fixed to the end of the shaft member 11 on the side plate 33 side. As the pedal arm 2 rotates, the magnet 53 fixed to the shaft member 11 rotates, and the magnetic field around the end of the shaft member 11 changes. The Hall IC 52 converts the change in the magnetic field into an electric signal and transmits the electric signal to the ECU. Thereby, ECU detects the rotation angle of the pedal arm 2, and controls the driving | running state of an engine.

The operation of the pedal device 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the driver does not apply the pedaling force to the pedal arm 2, the contact portion 23 and the stopper 36 are in contact with each other, and the pedal arm 2 is maintained in the fully closed position. In this case, when the engine is in an operating state, the rotation angle sensor 5 outputs a signal indicating that the pedal arm 2 is in the fully closed position to the ECU.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the driver applies a pedaling force to the pedal arm 2, the pedal arm 2 rotates in the X direction. In this case, the rotation angle sensor 5 outputs a signal indicating that the pedal arm 2 is rotated by a predetermined amount to the ECU.

  By the way, when the vehicle interior is cleaned while the pedal arm 2 is maintained at the fully closed position, foreign matter such as dust, sand, or stone is blown away by a blower or the like, and the rolled up foreign matter is removed from the opening 35 to the housing 3. It is conceivable to enter inside. When the foreign matter passes through the gap 20 in the housing 3 and accumulates in the deep portion 30, the foreign matter is a gap between the shaft member 11 and the recesses 331 and 341 of the side plates 33 and 34 of the housing 3 or between the friction plate 14 and the rotor 12. It is conceivable to bite into sliding parts such as gaps. In this case, the pedaling force characteristic set in advance in the pedal device 1 changes, and the operation feeling deteriorates.

Further, if foreign matter is accumulated in the deep portion 30 in the housing 3, a pedaling force is applied to the pedal arm 2, and when the pedal arm 2 rotates in the X direction, the foreign matter is transferred to the cylindrical portion 22 of the pedal arm 2 and the rotor. It is conceivable to pass between the 12 annular portions 121 and the top plate 32 of the housing 3 and engage between the stopper 36 and the contact portion 23. Alternatively, if foreign matter is accumulated in the deep portion 30 in the housing 3, when the pedal arm 2 rotates in the X direction, the foreign matter may be caught between the protrusion 122 of the rotor 12 and the cover 6 or the like. Conceivable.
In this case, when the pedaling force applied to the pedal arm 2 by the driver is released, the contact portion 2 of the pedal arm 2 or the protruding portion 122 of the rotor 12 may interfere with foreign matter, and the pedal arm 2 may not return to the fully closed position. is there. Then, since a signal indicating that the pedal arm 2 is rotating by a predetermined amount is output from the rotation angle sensor 5 to the ECU of the vehicle, the ECU may control the engine to an acceleration state contrary to the driver's intention. .

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, from the position where the cross-sectional area of the gap 20 between the cylindrical portion 22 and the annular portion 121 and the inner wall of the cover 6 is minimized, the opening 35 is closer to the minimum cross-sectional area of the gap 20. Also, a discharge hole 61 having a large cross-sectional area is formed in the cover 6. For this reason, the foreign matter that has entered through the opening 35 of the housing 3 passes between the inner wall 351 of the opening 35 and the outer wall 24 on the cover 6 side of the cylindrical portion 22, and without changing the moving direction thereof. It is discharged from the discharge hole 61 to the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the vehicle body. Thereby, it can suppress that a foreign material accumulates in the deep part 30 of the housing 3. FIG. For this reason, it is suppressed that a foreign material bites into the sliding location in the housing 3. Therefore, the pedaling force characteristic set in advance in the pedal device 1 is maintained, and the deterioration of the operation feeling can be suppressed.

  Further, when the pedal arm 2 is rotated, foreign matter is prevented from being caught between the stopper 36 of the housing 3 and the contact portion 23 of the pedal arm 2 or between the protruding portion 122 of the rotor 12 and the cover 6. be able to. Therefore, when the pedaling force applied to the pedal arm 2 by the driver is released, the pedal arm 2 is reliably returned to the fully closed position by the urging force of the spring 4. Therefore, since a signal indicating that the pedal arm 2 is in the fully closed position is output from the rotation angle sensor 5 to the ECU, the ECU stops the acceleration instruction to the engine. As a result, the safety of the pedal device 1 can be enhanced.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, in a plurality of embodiments, the same numerals are given to the composition substantially the same as a 1st embodiment mentioned above, and explanation is omitted. In the present embodiment, a dustproof wall 62 that protrudes from the outer wall of the cover 6 to the vehicle body side is provided on the side opposite to the opening 35 from the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6. The dust barrier wall 62 is slightly shorter than the distance between the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body and the cover 6. For this reason, a slight gap is formed between the dustproof wall 62 and the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body.
Note that the dust-proof wall 62 may be formed so as to contact the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body without providing a gap between the dust-proof wall 62 and the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body.
In this embodiment, by providing the dust-proof wall 62 on the outer wall of the cover 6 on the vehicle body side, foreign matter enters the discharge hole 61 from the upper side in the gravity direction of the housing 3 through the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the vehicle body. This can be suppressed. Therefore, foreign matter can be prevented from accumulating in the housing 3.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, a valve body 63 is provided in the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6. The valve body 63 is formed in a flat plate shape from resin or rubber, and closes the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6. The valve body 63 has a shaft 64 on the side opposite to the opening 35. The shaft 64 is rotatably attached to a shaft hole 65 provided in the outer wall of the cover 6. Thereby, the valve body 63 can be opened and closed to the vehicle body side.
When foreign matter such as dust, sand or stone is blown off by a blower or the like during cleaning of the passenger compartment, and the rolled up foreign matter enters the housing 3 through the opening 35, the foreign matter hits the valve body 63. The valve element 63 opens to the vehicle body side due to the impact of the air flow or the airflow of the blower (see the broken line portion in FIG. 6). For this reason, the foreign matter that has entered the housing 3 from the opening 35 is discharged into the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body.
On the other hand, when no force acts on the valve body 63 from the inside of the housing 3, the valve body 63 is closed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress foreign matters from entering the housing 3 through the discharge hole 61 from the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body at normal times. Therefore, foreign matter can be prevented from accumulating in the housing 3.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 66 is provided in the gap 20 between the pedal arm 2 and the rotor 12 and the inner wall of the cover 6. The elastic member 66 is attached to the inner wall of the cover 6 opposite to the opening 35 from the discharge hole 61. The elastic member 66 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape from, for example, resin, rubber, or sponge, and is joined to the inner wall of the cover 6 by adhesion or welding. Note that the cover 6 and the elastic member 66 may be integrally formed.
The elastic member 66 has a plate thickness t that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the distance a between the annular portion 121 of the rotor 12 and the inner wall of the cover 6. The elastic member 66 is formed so that the length of the pedal arm 2 in the rotation axis direction is substantially the same as the length between the one side plate 33 and the other side plate 34. Thus, the elastic member 66 closes the gap 20 on the opposite side of the opening 35 from the discharge hole 61.
In this embodiment, the foreign matter that has entered the gap 20 from the opening 35 is restricted from entering the deep portion 30 of the housing 3 by the elastic member 66, and is discharged from the discharge hole 61 to the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the vehicle body. Is done. Therefore, it is possible to suppress foreign matter from accumulating in the deep portion 30 of the housing 3.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a shielding member 67 is provided on the inner wall of the opening 35. The shielding member 67 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape from a plate material such as resin or rubber.
One edge of the shielding member 67 is fitted in a fitting groove 68 provided on the inner wall of the opening 35. Further, the other edge of the shielding member 67 is in contact with the outer wall of the pedal arm 2 in the X direction. The shielding member 67 can be elastically deformed as the pedal arm 2 rotates. Therefore, the shielding member 67 always shields the space formed between the inner wall of the opening 35 of the housing 3 and the pedal arm 2 when the pedal arm 2 is fully closed and rotated.
In the present embodiment, when foreign matter such as dust, sand or stone in the passenger compartment is rolled up by cleaning the passenger compartment or the like, the entry of the foreign matter from the opening 35 into the housing 3 may be restricted by the shielding member 67. it can.
In this embodiment, since the entry of foreign matter into the housing 3 is restricted, the cover 6 is not provided with a discharge hole. However, a discharge hole may be provided in the cover 6 as necessary.

(Sixth embodiment)
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the inner walls 611 and 612 of the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6 are formed to be inclined toward the opening 35 from the wall surface 100 side of the vehicle body toward the inside of the housing 3. In particular, the inner wall 611 on the opposite side of the opening 35 of the discharge hole 61 is formed in a substantially straight line with respect to the outer wall 24 on the cover 6 side of the cylindrical portion 22.
In the present embodiment, the foreign matter that has entered through the opening 35 of the housing 3 passes between the inner wall 351 of the opening 35 and the outer wall 24 on the cover 6 side of the cylindrical portion 22, and without changing the moving direction, It moves to the discharge hole 61. The foreign matter moves along the inner walls 611 and 612 of the discharge hole 61 and is discharged into the gap 60 between the cover 6 and the wall surface 100 of the vehicle body. Therefore, foreign matter can be prevented from accumulating in the housing 3.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiments, the pedal device 1 used for the accelerator operation of the vehicle has been described. On the other hand, the present invention may be applied to a pedal device used for a brake operation of a vehicle.
In the plurality of embodiments described above, the discharge hole 61 of the cover 6 is formed in a rectangular shape. On the other hand, in the present invention, the shape of the discharge hole is not limited, and may be, for example, circular or elliptical.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and in addition to combining the above-described plurality of embodiments, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pedal apparatus 2 ... Pedal arm 3 ... Housing 4 ... Spring (biasing means)
6 ... Cover 12 ... Rotor 20 ... Gap 35 ... Opening 60 ... Gap 61 ... Discharge hole

Claims (10)

A housing attachable to the vehicle body;
A pedal arm that is rotatably provided on an inner wall of the housing, and rotates by receiving a pedaling force of a driver at an end portion extending outward from an opening formed in the housing;
A biasing means for biasing the pedal arm in a direction opposite to a direction in which the pedal arm rotates by the driver's stepping operation;
A cover provided on the vehicle body side of the housing with a gap between the vehicle body, and
The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a discharge hole through which foreign matter that has entered the housing from the opening of the housing can be discharged into the gap between the cover and the vehicle body. A rotor provided around the rotation axis of the pedal arm, rotating together with the pedal arm, receiving a biasing force from the biasing means and transmitting to the pedal arm;
The discharge hole of the cover has a minimum cross-sectional area of a gap formed between a radial outer wall of the pedal arm or a radial outer wall of the rotor and the inner wall of the cover when the pedal arm is fully closed. Is provided on the opening side of the housing from the position
The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein an opening cross-sectional area of the discharge hole is formed larger than a minimum cross-sectional area of the gap.   The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the opening of the housing is inclined in a direction from the outside of the housing toward the discharge hole.   The outer wall on the cover side of the pedal arm is inclined in a direction from the outside of the housing toward the discharge hole when the pedal arm is fully closed. The pedal device according to item.   2. A dust-proof wall that protrudes from the outer wall of the cover to the vehicle body side on the opposite side of the opening from the discharge hole of the cover and prevents foreign matter from entering the housing. 5. The pedal device according to any one of 4.   The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a valve body that closes the discharge hole of the cover and that can be opened and closed toward the vehicle body.   The pedal device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising an elastic member that is provided on an inner wall of the cover and closes the gap on the opposite side of the opening from the discharge hole.   A shield member that shields a space formed between the inner wall of the opening of the housing and the pedal arm when the pedal arm is fully closed, and that can be elastically deformed as the pedal arm rotates; The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pedal device is characterized.   The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an inner wall of the discharge hole of the cover is inclined toward the opening from the vehicle body side toward the inside of the housing. A housing attachable to the vehicle body;
A pedal arm that is rotatably provided on an inner wall of the housing, and rotates by receiving a pedaling force of a driver at an end portion extending outward from an opening formed in the housing;
A biasing means for biasing the pedal arm in a direction opposite to a direction in which the pedal arm rotates by the driver's stepping operation;
A shielding member that shields a space formed between the inner wall of the opening of the housing and the pedal arm when the pedal arm is fully closed, and that can be elastically deformed as the pedal arm rotates. A pedal device characterized by that.

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